Beach bag and canopy



Feb. 27, 1951 w. w. PEERY BEACH BAG AND CANOPY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 29, 1947 INVENTOR.

PEE RY ATTORNEY WLLLIAM W Filed Sept. 29, 1947 INVENTOR. W PE E RYWILLIAM ATTORNEY Feb., 27, 1951 w. w. PEERY 2,543,597

BEACH BAG AND CANOPY Filed Sept. 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIII IIIII/INVENTOR. WILLIAM w. PEERY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE This invention relates to beach equipment and particularlyto a structure'forming a combination beach bag or sun shade. Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pendingapplication entitled Bag for Beach or Sun Bathprovide a unit that isadapted for the safe storage of personal items while employed as a suning Use, Serial No. 635,016,, filed December 14,

1945, and abandoned on December 9, 1947.

When the average persons go to the beach they usually have quite anumber of personal items and paraphernalia to carry along, both to thelocale and to the beach proper. Normally, they will carry bathing suits,caps, sandals, robes, towels, blankets, pillows, lotions, papers,magazines, umbrellas, food or drink and other sports equipment, and thelike. Then, after changing into their bathing suits they have most ofthese items plus cigarettes, compacts, purses, matches or lighters,watches, and if bath houses are not available, they may even have theirclothes to carry and take care of while on the beach and swimming.

shade at the beach.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a sunshade unit having a folding canopy that is adjustable in order to permitregulation of its expansion in accordance with the position of the sun.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sun shadeunit including a canopy having a plurality of sides toform a wind break'2 and sand screen, and which may be anchored in position on the beach.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide aunitary piece of equipment for the purpose described and which comprises"1 economy of construction, simplicity of design In the first place, thenumber of articles, both Y 3 large and small, that they must carry tothe beach form cumbersome armloads that are difficult to carry andindividual items may be dropped and broken or lost. Secondly, on thebeach the various items are apt to be scattered about, invested withsand, damaged by water, kicked around by scampering children and Erokenor lost, and may even be stolen by passers- In an effort to overcomesome of these difficulties, waterproof bags and the like have beenprovided for carrying the bathing suits and the like, but, obviously,these bags are not suitable for carrying the numerous other objects. Inaddition, folding or rollable sunshades and mats have been proposed toreplace the umbrellas and the like, but these are no more compact andoifer only slightly more protection than the umbrellas. Furthermore,these sunshades are not adjustable for variable expansion in accordancewith the location of the sun.

Having in mind the defects of the prior beach equipment, it is an objectof the present invention to provide a single unit that will eliminatethe need for a number of individual items and is capable of protectivelyenclosing all of the necessary items both in transportation to and fromthe beach and While on the beach.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a singleunit that is capable of use as a beach bag for carrying the necessaryparaphernalia to and from the beach, and also capable of use as asunshade and mat at the beach.

It is another object of the present invention to the bottom forming amat.

and efiiciency of operation.

The foregoing objects, and others ancillary thereto, are accomplished inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, by a devicecomprising a folding framework covered by sheet material and which maybe expanded to form a sun shade or collapsed to form a bag.Specifically, the frame may comprise a plurality of U-shaped membershaving their respective ends pivotally connected and preferably adaptedto be clamped in adjusted relation. This framework is completelycovered, at its sides and between its cross bars, by-a sheet materialsuch as waterproof canvas or the like. Thus, when the frame members arefolded together the unit forms a bag and when they are expanded it formsa canopy. In other words the ends of the bag are the sides of the canopyand sides of the bag are the top and bottom of the canopy, Furthermore,the free edge of the bottom of the canopy is provided with fasteningmeans and the free end of the top is provided with a flap includingcooperating fastening means for closing the unit when employed as a bag.

Pockets are provided within the unit for protectively enclosing variouspersonal items both when the device is used as a bag and as a sunshade.Rods are pivotally secured to the frame pivots and are adapted forembedding in the sand to anchor the canopy or for alignment to besecured together and form a handle. A pillow and mat sheet may besecured to the canopy bottom and the free corners of the mat sheet maybe provided with anchor pins.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the following description of a specificembodiment, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout and inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a beach ba canopy, according to thepresent invention, in erected position for use as a canopy, part of themat being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side View in elevation of theconnecting part of the framework, the covering being removed forconvenience of illustration;

Fig. 3 is an edge view in elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a side view in elevation of the device folded as a bag; 7

Figure 6 is an end view in elevation of the bag shown in Fig. 5;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the canopy and mat, parts of the canopybeing broken away for convenience of illustration;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Figure 5,but showing a handle element and the closure flap before they reachbagforming positions; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view takenlongitudinally through the handle structure for carrying the device whenfolded in bag form.

Referring now to the drawings, specifically Fig. 1, a combination beachbag and canopy may comprise, according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention, a foldable framework A which is covered by sheeting B. Theframework A preferably is formed by aplurality of U-shaped frames orbows l, 2 and 3, including cross-members 4, 5 and 6, and side arm or legmembers I, 8 and 9. The free ends ll] of the arm members 1, 8 and 9 arerespectively connected for pivotal movement by bolts l l carrying thumbnuts I2 for holding the assembled frames back and in selected position.If desired, a folding brace 30, shown in Fig. 2, may be employed tosupplement or replace the threaded pivots l l and thumb nuts l2.However, the latter elements are preferred as they facilitate adjustmentof the canopy between its extreme positions.

The sheeting B, which preferably comprises waterproofed canvas or thelike, is secured over and around the framework A and extends between theleg or arm members 9 of the bows 3 to form a panel l6, whichfunctions asthe bottom or mat of the canopy or as one side of the bag. The sheetingthen extends around the bottom cross-member 6 and up over theintermediate cross-member 5 to and around the top crossmember 5 thusforming the top and back of the canopy. The sheeting extends around thetop cross-member 4 and back beneath itself forming adouble layer I!which functions as the other side of the bag when the device is folded.The lower layer I1 is secured to the upper layer 18" midway its length,as by stitching l8, and terminates in a fiap l8 which is provided alongits free edge with suitable securing means [9 such as snap-fasteners.When the device is used as a canopy the flap [8 may be retained out ofthe way by connecting the fastening I9 by cooperating means carried bythe upper panel or layer l8" as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. 7

On the other hand, when the device is used as a bag, the flap l8 mayextend over the free edge 35 of the panel [6 and be secured thereto byfasteners [9 to form a closure for the bag.

The sheeting B extends over the sides of the bows I, 2 and 3 and betweenthe leg or arm portions 1 and 9 to form panels 20 that function as thesides of the canopy and as ends of the bag.

The panels 20 are secured to the arm portions 1, 8 and 9 in any desiredmanner as by end loops 2| to fit over the arms I and 9 of the bows I and3, and by a sleeve, formed by a strip of material 22, for receiving thearms 8 of the intermediate bow 2. Obviously, the sheeting may be securedby any other suitable means such as simple stitching through thematerial and around the bows.

A strip of sheeting 23 is sewed to the bottom panel 5 to provide pockets24 and 25, one or more of the pockets 25 being provided with a slidefastener 26 for closing the entrance thereto. These pockets 24 and 25are preferably attached to the panel l6 so that they will be in anupright position when the device is used as a bag, however, it isobvious that they may be formed on any of the other panels. Thesepockets 24 and 25 are provided for protectively storing and carryingvarious articles such as purses, jewelry, cigarettes, toilet articlesand the like. In addition to these pockets 24 and 25, the space betweenthe flap [8' and the panel [8" may be employed for storing flat articleswhen the device is used as a canopy. Furthermore, a mat 21, with orwithout a pillow 29, may be provided with the device and may, ifdesired, be secured to the panel 16 as by stitching 28, and the mat 21may be provided at its free corners with stakes 34 for anchoring it inextended mat form position as shown in Fig. '7.

In addition to the bow ends I0, blocks l3 are also pivotally mounted onthe bolts l I, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and support bars [4 by meansof pivots l5. As shown in Fig. 1, the bars II are adapted for insertionand imbedding in the sand for anchoring and holding the canopy in afixed position on the beach. These bars [4 may also be pivoted on theirpins [5 into alignment in order to serve as a handle or bail when thedevice is in folded bag forming position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Inthe latter case, the bars M are held rigidly in alignment as best shownin Fig. 9 by a sleeve 3| that bridges their ends 32 and is retained inthis position by spring biased locking dogs 33, one of which is mountedin each of the bars Hi. When it is desired to use the device as a canopyone of these dogs 33, is depressed and the sleeve 3| slid thereover andon to the bar proper, as shown in Fig. 1, the dog 33 thereby preventingthe sleeve 3| from becoming detached from the bar I 4 and being lost.

In the operation of the present invention, when the device is to beemployed as a bag as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, the bows l, 2 and 3 ofthe framework A are folded together about their pivots l I, the sheetingbeing folded between the bows in an accordion-like manner. If desired,snap-fasteners 36 or the like may be carried by the side or end panels20 so that in folded position, the fasteners 36 may be secured to neatlymaintain the folds of the material as shown in Fig. 6. The

ans-gees aligned, the sleeve 3| is slid over their aligned ends torigidly retain them in alignment, the dogs 33 ineach" of meters" l4abutting the oppositdends of the sleeve 31 to retain it iiipcsi' tion.obviously in-this-position the device'fo'rms a very roomybag-forenclosiri rid carrying all of the varioiis paraphernalia-p a bather;

On the otherhand; uponarrival" at the beach, when the device of thepresent invention is to be used asa canopy, as shown dEigs. l, 4 and 8,one of the dogs 33" is depressed and the sleeve slid thereover on to therespective bar I 4, the flap I8 is unfastened from the panel [6 and thebows I, 2 and 3 are expanded to the desired angle and secured by thethumb nuts IL. The bars l4 are embedded in the sand to anchor thecanopy, and the mat 27 is spread out and anchored by the stakes or pins34 to maintain it in a fixed relative position to the canopy on theground surface. The flap I8 may be secured to the panel I B" and variousarticles stored in the pockets 24 and 25. Thus it will be seen that thepresent invention provides comfort, security, convenience andorderliness to the bather and his property.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shownand described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is not to be retricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim as new, is:

1. In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame formingbows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of I saidbows, means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexiblesheeting extending around said frame and being secured to said bows toform the the covering of a bag when said bows are folded and to form acanopy when said bows are spaced, said sheeting extending across oneside of said frame to form a mat when said bows are spaced and to formthe side of a bag when said bows are folded, with the portion betweensaid pivots defining the free edge of said side and the top opening ofsaid bag, and a flap positioned on the side opposite said one side, whensaid bows are spaced, said flap being shiftable so as to extend over thefree edge of said side sheeting to close the bag when said bows arefolded.

2, In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame formingbows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of said bows,means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheetingextending around said frame and being secured to said bows to form thecovering of a bag when said bows are folded and to form a canopy whensaid bows are spaced, said sheeting extending across one side of saidframe to form a mat when said bows are spaced and to form the side of abag when said bows are folded, with the portion between said pivotsdefining the free edge of said side and the top opening of said bag, theside of said frame adjacent said one side, when said bows are spaced,being open to form the front of the canopy, a flap extending across thebow on said open side to extend over the free edge of said side sheetingto close the bag when said bows are folded, and fastening means on saidside sheeting and on said flap for cooperating to retain said bag inclosed position.

ends" a the: arms of said bows,

n eting extending between said bows as; f in the" covering of a; bagwhen said bowsfarejfoldedandto form' a canopy when said bowsf are spac'e'd, said sheeting extending bet n' thdarms and? across one of saidbows to bows are spaced and to he'nfsaid bows are folded,

' the side of" nd,

free'edg'e of saidside and the topopemn'gjof said ba g, a flappositioned on thesid'e" opposite said d rie 's'ide," enemas bows arespaced, said flap being shiftable so as to extend over the free edge ofsaid side sheeting to close the bag when said bows are folded, fasteningmeans on the outside and adjacent the free edge of said side sheeting,fastening means on the inside of said sheeting between said bows andfastening means on said flap for selectively c0- operating with eitherof said fastening means, to form a closure for said bag or to beretained in retracted position.

4. In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame formingbows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of said bows,means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheetingextending between said bows to form the covering of a bag when said bowsare folded and to form a canopy when said bows are spaced, said sheetingextending between the arms and across one of said bows to form the sideof a bag when said bows are folded and to form a mat when said bows arespaced, and bars mounted on said pivots to form stakes for insertion inthe ground to anchor said frame when opened as a canopy, said bars beingjointed for pivotal movement into alignment and spanning the ends ofsaid bows to form a handle for carrying said bag.

5. In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame formingbows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of said bows,means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheetingextending between said bows to form the covering of a bag when said bowsare folded and to form a canopy when said bows are spaced, said sheetingextending between the arms and across one of said bows to form the sideof a bag when said bows are folded and to form a mat when said bows arespaced, bars mounted on said pivots to form stakes for insertion in theground to anchor said frame when opened as a canopy, said bars beingjointed for pivotal movement into alignment and spanning the ends ofsaid bows to form a handle for carrying said bag, and means forretaining said handle forming bars in alignment.

6. In a combined beach bag and canopy rest, a plurality of frame formingbows, pivots connecting the corresponding ends of the arms of said bows.means for retaining said bows in spaced relation, a flexible sheetingextending around said frame and secured to said bows to form thecovering of a bag when said frame is folded and to form a canopy whensaid frame is opened, said sheeting extending across one side of saidframe to form the side of a bag when said frame is folded and to form amat when said frame is opened, the opposite side of said frame beingopen to form the front of the canopy, a flap extending across said opamebows; pivots" connecting the i b w spa d r a' he, t tde isa iv ts efinis he J amass posite side of said frame to extend over the free edge ofsaid side sheeting to close the bag when said frame is folded, fasteningmeans on the outside of said side sheeting, fastening means on theinside of sheeting between said bows, fastening means on said flap forselectively cooperating with either of said fastening means, barsmounted on said pivots to form stakes for insertion in the ground toanchor said frame when opened as a canopy, said bars being jointed forpivotal movement into alignment and spanning said frame to form a handlefor carrying said bag, and means for retaining said handle forming barsin alignment.

WILLIAM W. PEERY.

8 1 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,036,033 Fisher Mar. 31, 19362,190,566 Julian Feb. 13, 1940 2,290,786 Varady July 21, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 28,323 Australia Aug. 21, 1930

